Coconut Cheesecake Bars

Posted on July 28, 2013 by chezsylvia

Coconut Cheesecake Bar

I have been paying Canton, NY a visit every now and then for work.  It’s a tiny little town in the North Country.  While it is a bit of a hike, whenever I find myself up there for a meeting, I make it a point to visit the Blackbird Cafe.  It’s a small cafe that serves breakfast, lunch and dinner.  The selection of sandwiches are all interesting, although I do question the use of their herbed mayo on almost everything.  Don’t get me wrong, the mayo is delicious, but mayo in a grilled cheese was a little new to me.

During my last visit, I had arrived early for a meeting (as we all know, the one who lives the farthest, is always the earliest), I took the time and grabbed some dinner.  After I basically inhaled my sandwich while furiously checking emails from the past 7 hours, I suddenly had a little more time to kill, and a sweet tooth.  So I perused the display and saw something called Hello Dolly.

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Intrigued I asked what it was.  It was a graham cracker crust with coconut and topped with walnuts and chocolate chips.  Sold.

With the weather cooler and the AC now off finally, I decided it was time to get that oven running again.  So, I decided to make a version of the Hello Dolly that would also help me use up a block of cream cheese I’ve had sitting in my fridge way longer than I would really like.

I combined a couple of recipes, and used some baking experience to throw this version together.  I apologize for the approximate measurements.  I totally went old school grandma baking on this and did it mostly by feel than exact measurements.

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ChezSylvia Weekend Adventure: Good Morning Manhattan!

Posted on July 27, 2013 by chezsylvia

Good morning Washington Square

Manhattan before 7am on a Saturday has a rather comforting quietness to it.

Astor Place

The streets are as empty as they will ever be.  As the sun rises the new day shines and reflects off of the glass facades of buildings lining the streets.  The morning still cool, but warm under the rays of the new day.

Cooper Union Reflection

Freedom Tower from West Village

I made it to the class that brought me into Manhattan so early in the first place.  A two hour reality check in my journey to that bakery I keep thinking about.   After two intense hours of what to expect when you are expecting to produce a successful bakery, I got hungry.

I ambled further downtown while in deep thought over what I just learned.  I found myself at Balthazar.  Sufficiently convinced that I needed to start saving 5 years ago, I opted for some take away at the bakery next door. It was a much more affordable option to the super expensive restaurant laden with tourists.  Asparagus and mushroom croissant and orange brioche (couldn’t help myself) in hand, I headed back over to Washington Square Park to nosh and people watch.

Balthazar asparagus and mushroom croissant

As I dug into the asparagus, mushroom and cheese wrapped in a deliciously buttery croissant, the piano music started on a path nearby.

Mozart and a late breakfast on a park bench on a beautiful Saturday morning.

Piano in the Park

For that moment, life was good.

Park Bench

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Searching for a Running Buddy, Stopping for Shrimp and Coconut Grits

Posted on July 21, 2013 by chezsylvia

Shrimp and Grits

Finding a running buddy is like dating.

You can run a lot with an assortment of people, hoping to find the right group or person you click with enough to start meeting on a regular basis.

The unwritten rule of running with a buddy is what is spoken on the road stays on the road.  The relationship gets pretty intimate, in the emotional sense.  Things are said, discussed, you are exposed, walls fall.  If it’s the right person, the trails become a safe place.  You can just speak with no filter and there is no judgement.

But, life happens and when you and your running buddy split ways, it’s like breaking up.

Farm path

It takes time to recover and to move on.  It took awhile to get back into the game.  I had a rough time running alone once again.  It didn’t help that winter had settled in, and those cold pre-dawn hours were so much harder to face without that friendly face waiting for me outside the door.  I took a break to rediscover the joys of running alone.

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Time has passed, life moves on, and I am now once again open to finding another running buddy.  I’m ready to open up again, find someone new to de-stress with, to gab nonsense, work through problems and just run ideas past.  Someone to share spectacular sunrises with, explore new trails, keep me accountable.

I’ve asked many people to run with me, but 6am runs aren’t many people’s cup of tea.  It’s going to take time.

Until then, something comforting to hold me over:  Shrimp and Coconut Grits

Shrimp and Grits

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Not Just for Bagels and Frosting: Peanut Butter and Cream Cheese Sandwiches

Posted on July 15, 2013 by chezsylvia

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I switched cable providers recently.  When I moved in, there was only one provider to choose from.  It seems when they built the building, they entered into a contract with this provider and everything was wired up for them.  However, that deal was a two year contract, and now two years have passed, so back to the free(ish) market!  Unfortunately, this also made me a first mover.  So, long story short, it took this poor technician 5 hours to install my new service.  Lots of lessons learned for the next person.

While this guy was drilling holes in my walls and neatly running cables from point A to B, I had nothing to do.  This called for a fridge clean out.

I am one person, but I seemed to have accumulated quite a bit of living ecosystems cultivating in jars in the back of my fridge.  I meticulously (the Sylvia definition) took everything out, and cleaned each and every shelf.  I threw out a lot of mystery jars and containers.

In doing this, I did find a container and a block of cream cheese from the last time I must have made cake.  Going by my wisdom that cream cheese goes bad when it turns color, this half used container looked still good.  But I suspect it wouldn’t last that way for long.

So, now starts the race to use up the cream cheese!

Now that we are in the midst of a heatwave, baking anything was out of the question.  Plus I really didn’t want any dessert lying around taunting me to eat it all by myself.

So I searched the internet for some ideas.

That’s when I came across some comments talking about peanut butter and cream cheese sandwiches.  What?  Really?  I had to give this a shot.

Peanut Butter Cream Cheese Sandwich

It was actually pretty good.  I love cream cheese and the tang, and with the peanut butter, it worked!  Someone equated it to a tangier version of peanut butter and fluff.

It was not.  They are similar only in color profile.  The cream cheese was silkier and didn’t have to sweetness that makes fluffernutter sandwiches so yummy.  This was definitely not sweet, but just as satisfying.  I’m already looking forward to the next opportunity to make another!

What else can I do with cream cheese….

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Hot Weather calls for some Coconut Ice-y Cream Goodness

Posted on July 8, 2013 by chezsylvia

Ice Cream bowl

I ran out of Bodyglide this weekend.

As I was getting ready for yet another hot sweaty run, I used whatever I had left hoping it would be enough. It was….just enough.

I stopped in at a Dick’s Sporting Goods store that was in the same complex as the furniture store I was visiting, hoping to pick up a new stick.

I was really hoping I would be able to find it on my own.  But, I ended up having to ask someone.

It felt so weird….”Where can I find the Body Glide?”

The blank expression on his face confirmed that he was not a runner, and I’m sure he now thinks I’m a weirdo.

I explained it was for running, and he pointed me to the fitness section, where I did end up finding it.  It was the last stick left on the display.  Phew!  Not all for naught!

It’s hot out there, lots of wierdos out for a run!

And now, something to cool us all off…

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Race Report: Putnam County Classic 8 Mile Race

Posted on July 4, 2013 by chezsylvia

Rockin the socks at the Putnam County Classic 8 miler

Last night, on a complete whim, I decided to run the Putnam County Classic, 8 mile race.  I wanted to go for a run, and I figured, I hadn’t raced in awhile, so why not.  It was sort of close by, a local race (the best kind of races) and long, but not I needed 12 weeks to train for it, long.

I haven’t raced since April when I did the Hook Half Marathon.  Since then, I’ve been maintaining a base and trying to just keep running at least 3 times a week in between the two times a week of CrossFit classes.

The last time I ran more than 6 miles was back in May, and even then it was just a hair shy of 7 miles.  So, 8 miles…totally do-able, albeit, a touch long and it won’t be easy.

I did day of registration, which costs $25.  I was also able to snag a t-shirt to add to my shirts to run in collection.  I got there at about 7:30 for an 8AM race.  A bit rushed, I was still able to register, visit the bathroom and quickly trek back to my car to throw on my socks and sneakers.  Putting on compression socks is a workout in itself and takes time.

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Fireworks and a Dead Battery

Posted on July 3, 2013 by chezsylvia

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So I learned a lesson the hard way: Always charge your camera battery (or carry an extra!)!

My town was having their fourth of July fireworks show, and this year, I was going to practice my night photography skills and go on the roof of my building to watch and take some pictures of the show.  I get a great view from up there, just have to remember to carefully wedge something in the door so I didn’t get locked out!

However, out of sheer laziness on my part, I decided that since my battery indicator showed two of the three bars, that meant my battery was fine and did not need recharging.

Never mind that the camera has been sitting idle in my camera bag for the past month, while still On.

Never mind that!

The funny part was, when I checked on my camera earlier, I thought “maybe I should charge the battery, since I have a few hours”.  A fleeting thought, I guess…

Not all for naught though.  I did manage to get 7 solid shots before my camera angrily disabled my shutter due to low battery.  Out of the 7 shots, I found three decent ones.

Fireworks 7/3/2013

Fireworkd 7/3/2013

Fireworks 7/3/2013

There is something about the streaking of the smoke that I like….

Without a camera, I figured, at least I can just stand back and just enjoy the show…but no.  I had a camera on my new phone I wanted to test out.

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It just wasn’t the same.

So lesson learned here ladies and gents.  You should always have a fully charged camera battery, or carry an extra.  I’ll have to try again next year!!

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No Skinny Jeans for this Girl

Posted on June 29, 2013 by chezsylvia

Shirtless for a hot sweaty run

I recently came across this: The 157lb dissection.

I loved it.  I love her honesty, how she just lays it all out there asking us to judge her.  My favorite line?  “The way you look should be a by-product of what you can do”.  Damn straight girls.

But, however much I believed this, it’s tough to hold onto, and the other day I slipped.

I had to have my picture taken at work for this magazine profile thing.  I was a little apprehensive about the whole thing.  One of the reasons why I became a photographer was so I stayed behind the camera.

I was pleasantly surprised how the pictures came out.  However, for the full body shot, as nice as the picture was, I did catch a thought shooting through my head.

“Wow my legs are huge”.

Then I felt so bad for thinking that.

My legs are muscular.  They will never fit into skinny jeans, boots will always be hit or miss (and forget ever being able to tuck my jeans into them), and when I sit, my lap takes up quite a bit of room.  My running, biking, swimming, all those squats, box jumps and wall ball shots made them even more muscular over the past year and a half.

Post Hook Half...in hot pink socks!

So, inspired by that post, I thought I’d follow suit.  A snapshot of the body I possess (muscular legs and all) and the things it can do:

Age: 31
Height: 64 inches
Weight: 145 pounds

Neck: 13 inches
Chest: 34 inches
Waist: 31 inches
Hips: 38.5 inches

Most recent Marathon Time: 4:57:21 (Loch Ness Marathon, 2012)
Most recent half marathon time: 2:07:47 (Hook Half Marathon, 2013)

Half Ironman Triathlon Time: 7:25:16 (Toughman Half Ironman Triathlon, 2010)

Deadlift: 195 lbs
Back Squat: 155 lbs
Push Press: 90 lbs
Clean & Jerk: 95 lbs

My future endeavors?  I want to do a real unassisted pull up, I want to set a new half marathon PR, I want to deadlift 1.5 times my bodyweight and clean 100 pounds.  Is that all?  No, but it’s a start!

That’s why my legs are so large.  How was I going to do all that with thin model stick legs?  I can live with never wearing skinny jeans if it means I can run marathons and squat my bodyweight and then some.

Bench Pressing Frog

A by-product of what I can do right?

Posted in Biking, CrossFit, Life, Running, Uncategorized | Tagged , , | 4 Comments

Ode to Summer

Posted on June 24, 2013 by chezsylvia

Summer hammock time

Summer is here!

Summer has wasted no time getting re-acquainted.  Besides the sudden onset of heat and humiditiy, there are some things worth looking forward to…

Fresh berries, fruits and the slew of super colorful fresh veggies busting out of the stalls of the vendors at the farmers markets.

Heirloom Tomato

Early morning sun rises and warm lingering sunsets extending past my bedtime.

Manhattan at sunset

That summer crush I can’t seem to don’t want to shake.

A Groom

Mezmorizing lighting storms that make me nervous but are thrilling all at the same time.

Window Pane

Dining al fresco

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Lazy afternoons in the grass with the dogs…

Leeory in the grass

Walee chilling

Summer is here, so pull out those cute summer dresses, pop handfuls of freshly rinsed blueberries like candy, and get out there and enjoy the hot sunshine….

Billyburg

Before old man winter starts to stir from his slumber…

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Ditching the Diet for Burgers and Beer: Westchester Magazine’s Burger Beer Bash 2013

Posted on June 9, 2013 by chezsylvia

WM Burger Beer Bash 2013

I’ve mentioned in previous posts that I try to be a flexatarian.  Meaning, I follow mostly a plant based diet, but will eat a little meat.    However there are some times where the gloves are off and the whole plant based diet thing goes way out the window.

A Burger & Beer Bash is one of those times.

WM Burger Beer Bash 2013

As part of Westchester Magazine’s Food & Wine Festival weekend, they hosted the Burger & Beer Bash.  When I found out about it, I was all over it.  The ticket price was a bit steep ($65).  But, to me this meant that this was going to be an orderly event.  I’ve been to festivals where admission was free but the food was not, and those are always a mess of all sides of humanity filled with long lines and everyone running out of food.  Plus I’m not a fan of wall to wall people.

WM Burger Beer Bash 2013

It was a rainy Thursday night, which meant everyone hung out under the large tent.  This created the wall to wall of people, but it at least it was orderly.  Getting through took time, but wasn’t too annoying, which was nice.  Plus it let me test out my theory of the most efficient way to touch people to get them to move out of the way.

There were 28 restaurants pushing their slider sized burger samplings to hopefully win my vote for the “Cadillac of Burgers”.  As for beer selections, there was a few choices from Captain Lawrence (including my favorite Liquid Gold) and from Blue Moon.  I tried the Tongue Thai-ed offering from Blue Moon.  It was really good, and very well spiced.  Something to keep an eye out for!

WM Burger Beer Bash 2013

As for the 28 offerings?  Of the 28 restaurants, we opted to skip 3 of them (Westchester Burgar Company, Lazy Boy Saloon and BGR) since we had been to the restaurants (and had their burgers) already.  So, that left 25 to work through.  We rocked it.

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